ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effects of sodium aescinate(SA)on oxidative stress and pulmonary function during acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD).Methods One hundred and twenty patients with COPD were randomly divided into two groups:the control group(n =60) and the treatment group(n =60).All patients were treated with routine anti-infection,oxygen inhalation,relieving phlegm and anti-asthma The treatment group took SA in addition to the routine beteropathy.The changes of serum SOD,MDA,GSH-Px,T-AOC,pulmonary functions and 6 minute walk distance(6MWD) were detected before and after two-week treatment in patients of the two groups to compare with 60 healthy subjects.Results The total effective rate in the treatment group was 91.67％,while 76.67％ in the control group.The difference was statistically significant(x2 =5.065,P ＜0.05).Serum MDA level in both groups were comparatively higher than the healthy controls(9.25±1.55) μmol/L vs.(9.74±1.50) μmol/L vs.(2.06±0.29) μmol/L,P ＜0.001),while the levels of SOD,GSH-Px and T-AOC were lower than the healthy controls[SOD:(91.14±9.54) kU/L vs.(90.61±8.01) kU/L vs.(116.63±6.57) kU/L; GSH-Px:(139.38±36.56) U vs.(137.57±34.19) U/L vs.(189.34±35.54) U/L; T-AOC:(6.48±1.15) kU/L vs.(6.39±1.13) kU/L vs.(13.34±1.23)kU/L;P < 0.001].After treatment,all indexes of the two groups were obviously ameliorated in comparison with before treatment(P ＜ 0.001),but the level of MDA[(4.56±1.39) μmol/L]in the treatment group decreased more greatly than in the control groups(P ＜ 0.001).The levels of SOD[(103.85±7.07) kU/L],GSH-Px[(169.65±34.51) U/L],T-AOC[(10.52±1.09) KU/L],forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity(FEV1/FVC)[(60.49±6.11)％],FEVI％[(76.62±6.35)％]and 6MWD [(394.83±10.11)m]increased considerably more than those in the control group(P ＜ 0.001).Conclusion Oxidative stress might be involved in the course of acute exacerbation of COPD.Sodium aeseinate can improve the pulmonary functions by ameliorating the oxidative stress during acute exacerbation in patients with COPD.